Winter Storms Loom

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2-4 inches snow today in Aberdeen

much more likely on Friday

December 30, 2010|BY JEFF BAHR, jbahr@aberdeennews.com

A winter storm with freezing rain, heavy snow, strong winds and dangerous wind chills across much of South Dakota could disrupt travel during the New Year's holiday, according to a release from the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.

The National Weather Service said the storm will have a significant impact on nearly all of South Dakota, with the greatest snow expected in the central and northeastern parts of the state.

In Aberdeen, 2 to 4 inches of snow are expected today. Another snowfall on Friday could produce 5 to 10 inches.

A change in wind direction overnight sent warm temperatures packing and paved the way for a strong Arctic blast that arrives today in the Aberdeen area.

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The wind was expected to switch from the southeast to a more northerly direction early this morning. As a result, the mercury will drop steadily all day today. By late this afternoon, the temperature should be in the single digits in Aberdeen, said Aaron Dorn of the National Weather Service in Aberdeen.

By 10 or 11 tonight, Aberdeen should receive 2 to 4 inches of snow. The area will also see sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph, beginning in the mid- to late morning.

Around 10 or 11 tonight, the snow will taper off or stop completely.

Friday, though, will bring more snow and even stronger winds.

“Friday and Friday night could be real buggers for wind speed,” Dorn said.

The sustained winds, again from the north, could reach 25 to 35 mph. “We're keeping a very close eye on that. Because if that comes to fruition, then we're dealing with the 'B' word,” Dorn said, referring to a blizzard. Heavy-enough winds would reduce visibility and upgrade a winter storm warning to a blizzard.

The snow should start to pick up Friday at 9 or 10 a.m. and will continue much of the day.

If the winds stay below 30 mph, though, visibility should not be too bad, Dorn said.

The release from the Department of Public Safety said as much as 8 to 14 inches of snow are expected across much of South Dakota, along with winds of 25 to 40 mph and wind chills of 25 degrees to 35 degrees below zero. Blizzard conditions are likely in some areas during the worst of the storm.

“This is a strong and dangerous storm, and it is arriving just as many people have travel plans for the New Year's holiday,'' said Major Randy Hartley, acting superintendent of the South Dakota Highway Patrol. “If you do plan to travel and can leave ahead of the storm, that's great. If you can't do that, it is better to be safe than stranded in the kind of conditions being forecast.''

Hartley urged citizens to pay close attention to changes in the weather and to take steps to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.